Hydraulic valve tappet



5 M M E March 1, 1938. F, c. BEST HYDRAULIC VALVE TAPPET Filed Dec. 21, 1935 PatentedMar. 1,

vanvn TAPPE'I' Frank 0. Best, mil-batman, assignor'to Pack ard Motor CarCompany, Detroit, Mich,

'poration or Mich san Application December 21; 1935, Serial No. 55,053

19 Claims. I (01. lea-9o) This invention relates to improvements in the operating mechanism for the valves of internal combustionengines and ls more particularly concerned with devices for eliminating clearance and play in the mechanism in order to secure more eilicient and quite operation-of the valves, and

in methods of assembling such devices.

It has heretofore been proposed to employ takeup devices of the general character indicated, but 10 such devices have not proven wholly satisfactory from a practical standpoint. Thus it is essential for satisfactory performance that such devices be capable of functioning properly over the ex-' treme range of temperature established in actual .15 use, that they be capable of withstanding the stresses resulting from high frequencyimpulses to which they are subjected when employed with modern high speed engines, and that they shall be of sufficiently small size and light weight to I permit of use without adversely aifecting the opthese various requirements and to provide a small and compact device which is of light weight and which will function for an indefinite period without any attention,, to automatically regulate or eliminate clearance in the valve mechanism.

In its more specific aspect the invention is conv cerned with the provision of a valve tappet which tappets orcam followers now commonly interposed between the cam shaft and the valve stem of poppet valves, It is a feature of the invention that the device, whether intended for use as a tappet or for association in some other way with conventional valve mechanism,,may be readily assembled and sold as a complete unit.

- It is, a further object of the invention to provide a deviceof' the character described in which a liquid medium is employed to oppose displace;

ment of the working parts except when necessary;

for the purpose of taking up clearance'in the valve mechanism, the construction preferably being such that thellquid may completely fill and vide a valve tappet which is preferably generally cylindrical in shape and of a length-and diameter comparablersto that of knownnon-adjustable Y or- 55 manually adjustable tappets, the working parts ing, in which may be readily employed as. a substitute for valveof the tappet being so arranged as to occupy a portion only of the length of the tappet. An important feature of the invention is the provision of means aflording compensation for varying pressure and volume of the fluid within 5 the system, such variation resulting, for instance, from the wide range of temperatures to which'devices of this character are subjected when in operation. This means is particularly desirable in the event thefluid system is completely filled 10 with liquid, devices ofthe prior art being defective in that they fail to afford adequate provision for the expansion of the liquid whenheated and tion is effected by means of a deformable memher which is partially collapsed or distorted on the application of. excessive pressure thereto so as to increase the capacity of the ,fiuid system, 20 this member being located within thedevice itself and thus protected against possible damage.

' Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying draw- 25 Figure 1-is a transverse sectional view-of a device constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, illustrating the application of the invention to a tappet for the actuation of 30 {the conventional internal combustion engine pop- 'of the device and showing elements corresponding to certain only of the elements shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig- .ure 3. 40

- In describing the invention reference is. made to the preferred forms thereof illustrated in the .accompanying drawing and specific language is employed. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope or the invention is 45 thereby intended and that various further modification-sand alterations of the illustrated structure are contemplated. v I

In the-form of the invention shown in Figure 1 iiiustrating the embodiment of the invention in a valve tappet, it will bepbserved that the tappet is of the barrel type and" includes an outer shell or casing ID of generally cylindrical ishape and .open at one end, the casing being preferably dimensioned for reception in the cylindrical tappet guide commonly associated with the engine block of internal combustion engines, in which guide the tappet is. reciprocated by means of a cam II on the usual cam shaft l2 in order to alternately open and close the engine valve. Such an arrangement is quite conventional and is illustrated, for instance, in more detail in Figures 1 and 2 of my copending application, Serial No. 26,483, filed June 13, 1935. I

The device is preferablyconstructed to afford.

a closed and sealed fluid system which is distappet.

posed entirely within the casing H1 in order'to provide a self-contained unit, the working parts of which are protected against damage. Thus the casing ID may be formed interiorly thereof to provide a cylinder IS in which is slidably received the head portion i6 of a piston, the stem portion ll of the piston extending longitudinally of the casing 10 and engaging at its outer end, preferably through a simple form of length'adjusting device, with the stem l3 of the engine valve.

The piston may be yieldingly urged toward the open end of the-casing H] by means of a coil spring 2Q, the spring 20 being interposed under compression between the head or closed end of the casing l and the head portion N5 of the piston. The latter is provided with a passage I8 extending therethrough and affording communication between the cylinder l5 and the outer part of the casing I0, this passage being controlled by a valve l9 which is normally retained in seated position against the mouth of the passage l8 by means of a coil spring 22, the latter acting under compression between the head end of the easing l0 and valve IS. The valve I9 is preferably deformed or otherwise constructed to provide a central aperture 23 for reception on a stud 24 of generally cylindrical shape, the stud 24 being formed on the head portion 46 of the piston and serving as a guide for the valve l9. and coil spring 22. The head end of the casing I0 is provided with a port 26 which is normally closed by a plug 21, the function of this port being hereinafter more particularly described.

- The elements of the device thus far mentioned are simple and function in a manner common in the art to which the invention relates. If the casing Ill be supplied with liquid on eachside of the head portion l6 of the piston, the valve l9 will permit liquid to flow through the passage l8 and into the cylinder I5 on outward movement of the piston but will prevent rapid movement of the piston into the cylinder, flow of liquid out of the cylinder taking place only very gradually as the result of leakage between the head portion [6 of the piston and the cylinder walls. The spring 'yieldingly urges the piston outward and thus tends to engage the piston stem I! with the lower end of the engine valve stem, taking up any clearance which may exist in the valve actuating mechanism. As the cam shaft is rotated, and the tappet as a whole is'moved upwardly, the tappet piston and the casing I 0 act as a rigid unit, the cam thrust being transmitted to the engine valve stem 13 to unseat the engine valve. Expansion of liquid Within the cylinder l5 as the result of increase in temperature causes gradual seepage of liquid past the piston without increase in the eifective length of the Corresponding increase in length of other parts of the valve actuating mechanism as the temperature rises is likewise accommodated by gradual discharge of liquid from the cylinder l5. At the same time, any play in the valve actuating mechanism resulting from decrease in temperature of the parts thereof results in immediate outward compensating movement of the piston, liquid flowing into the cylinder [5 through the passage l8 to retain the parts of the tappet against contraction. Thus the device may be described as a member of which the effective length is, automatically and rapidly increased whenever such increase is permitted, but which may be contracted in length only at a fairly slow rate so that during operation the device acts as a substantially rigid member under compressionin the valve actuating train. The force of the spring 20 is of course less than that exerted by the enine valve spring l4 so that there is no tendency to unseat the valve other than by operation of the usual valve cam shaft.

In order that the device may be constructed as a self-contained unit, and to avoid the complicated structure required to continually supply liquid to the device from an outside source, the

fluid system incorporated in the device is completcly closed.

For this purpose I may provide a closure member which is received in the outer end of the casing In with a press fit, seating on an annular flange 35 formed interiorly of the casing. The closure member may be formed with a boss 31 having a central aperture 39 therein through which the outer end of the piston stem I1 extends, the latter being provided with an abutment arranged to engage the closure member 35 to limit outward movement of the piston. For instance the piston stem I! may be provided with an annular groove 4| for the reception of a ring 44 which is somewhat flexible and which is snapped into position in the groove.

The boss 31 may be further provided with an annular groove 4'! in which is received an annular element of deformable material, for example rubber or rubber-like material which has been treated to resist attack by the liquid which is to be employed in the device. The annular element 50 is preferably surface bonded both to the piston stem l1 and to the walls of the groove 41 in which it seats; in the case of rubber or like material, vulcanization is resorted to. Thus the piston is permitted to partake of small displacement axially of the casing Hi, the annular member 50 being distorted to the extent necessary to permit such displacement, while at the same time effectively sealing the casing l0. 4

Ashereinbefore suggested, it is an important feature of the invention, particularly where air or other compressible fluid is entirely excluded from the fluid system, to provide for the expansion and contraction of liquid within the casing in 'which must necessarily take place in practice. For this purpose I prefer to provide a deformable member which, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure l, is indicated at and is constituted principally by a flexible wall surrounding and secured to the piston stem l1 and tion on the application of fluid pressure to the outer wall thereof than would a circular chamber. The material of which the member 60 is formed may be fairly thin sheet metal or any other flexible material but is preferably of such a na ture that the member is self-sustaining. In the 2,109,816 event sheet metalis used, the member may be deformed at either end to provide generally tubular portions it snugly engaging the piston stem l1 and secured thereto as indicated at 64 by welding or soldering. A silver solder has been found quite satisfactory for this purpose.

It willbe observed that this member 60 lies wholly within the casing and is disposed within the fluid reservoir which is constituted by that portion of the casing outwa'rd of the head portion i6 of the piston. Of course the member 60 need not be secured to the piston stem and may be disposed elsewhere in the reservoir, but I have found this construction quite convenient for purposes of assembly and highly satisfactory in operation, there "being obviously no interference whatever with the free movement of the piston as there- .sult of deformation or the member 60;

As the temperature to which the devioeis subjected rises, and the liquid within the casinglll expands; the resulting increased pressure deforms the walls ofthe member 60, causing them to collapse or flex inward slightly-so that the develop: merit of excessive pressure which might interfere with outward movement of the piston such as is required totake up clearance lnthevalve actuating mechanismis definitely prevented; the increased volume oi liquid resulting from increase in temperature is eflect ively compensated by the increased capacity of the equalize pressure and volume conditions within the device: 1

In Figures 3 ands a slightly modified construction is shown, the member 60 being replaced by an annular member 6t of. generally. similar shape and location and performing a similar function. This member 86 may be'i'ormed of deformable material such asrcork, rubber, or the like, cork being preferred, Unless the material selectedis one which is ,resistant'topenetration and attack by the liquid employed in the device, the memfluid reservoir resulting from flexure oi the member Gil. Thus this member serves to automatically. and substantially more particularly in my 'copending application Serial No. 55,652, filed concurrently herewith, the method involving the assembly of the device while the parts thereof are immersed in the liquid. Thismethod can be readily applied to the device .illustrated in this application," the deformable member being first secured-in position on the piston stem II, the abutment ring "44 being 10- cated as suggested herein, and the closure member 35 being fitted on the stem outwardly of the j ring 44 by the surface bonding of the annular element 50 to the closure member and the piston stem. The valve 19 and coil spring 22 arethen assembled on the stud 24, the coil spring 22. in-

' troduced in the casing l0, and the two units are thus made ready for the several steps-outlined in my-last named 'copending application. As described in that application, the pressing of the ber is preferably coated with a substanceimperviews to the liquid, for instance shellac or a spe-.

cial recently developed heat resisting synthetic" rubber, this coating being designated at 68. 0bviously the material'employed will depend primarily onthe nature of the liquid which is to beused,various types oi'oil, kerosene, and the like having been heretofore proposed.

The member-6t may be retained in position onthe piston stem I! in I any convenient manner. For instance,

a groove 1i may be formed in the stem outwardly of the member 61 and a resilient ring 12 may be snappedinto place in the groove,

this ring retaining the member 66 in position against ashoulder 13 formed end of the piston stem.

The construction may be otherwise identical with that shown in Figure Land the device will obviously function in. the same manner, the member 66 being compressed on the development of adjacent the; inner fluid pressure within the casing I0 and thus u'.i'-

fording increased capacity inthe fluid reservoir. The complete filling of the system with liquid and the exclusion of airtherefr'om is important 1 if most eflicient operation'is-to be'obtained. 3 Thus it has long been recognized that in devices of this character which are .violently agitated in use, any small quantity of air which may be in contact with the liquid in the device forms an emulsion with the liquid. During continued 'operation this emulsion or a portion of it eventually finds its way into the cylinder-and closure member 35 in the open endof the casing I0 and oi the plug 21 in the port 26 is eifected by the use of suitable pressure applying tools while the parts are completely'immersed.

As hereinbei'ore pointed out,.the device is particularly useful as a substitute for non-adjustable .or mechanically adjustable tappets and it is preferable to provide some means for eiiectlng an lni-,

tial manual adjustment of the effective length of ud the tappet so that all the tappets in an engine may be subjected tothe same degree of compression andfwill behave uniformly. In order that this adjustment maybe quickly and effectively made and in order that the over-all length of the tappet need not be unduly increased by cumbersome mechanism, I prefer to employ an arrangement such as shown in Figure 1 including a cap 58 which is dimensioned to receive the outer end of the valve stem l1, one or more shims 59 being.

placed beneath the cap before'the latter is inserted in position. Preferably the method of assembly islas followsa As initially formed the piston is urged outwardly of the casing, outward movement being limited by engagement of the ring 44 on the plston stem I! with the closure member 35 as hereinbefore indicated, The tappet is placed in posi-' tion in the engine ta pet guide with a cap 58 in position on the piston stem while the engine valve stem l3 and spring I! are raised, andthe latter are then released. The clearance between-the lower end of the engine valve stem l3 and the cap 58. is then carefully measured and-a shim 59 of slightly greater thickness than this measured clearance is sel'ectd; for instance, in practice this shim may be about .002 inch thicker than the measured-clearance. The engine valve and -valve spring are then raisedfand the selected shim is inserted beneath the capv 58.- On release of the engine valve and spring the piston stem l I is displaced downwardly in the icasing In so that: the ring .44. is spaced from the-.blosure member 3 5 by-the amount of the added thickness of the 1 selected shim 59 determined in the manner hereiubefore 'explaini ed igr instance about .002 inch.

Each tappet of the engine is now compressed to .precisely the same extent and approximately the same force acts onthe piston of each tappet to urge the same outwardly of its casing.

If care is exercised in assembling the device there is obviously no possibility of dischargeof liquid therefrom. If, however, leakage of liquid should for any reason occur, the device will still function since the stud 24 will engage the adjacent end of the casing ill to limit inward movement of the piston. Although this will result in noisy operation by reason of the increased clearance between the engine valve stem and the tappet, total failure will not occur.

Various changes in the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated herein will readily occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates and I do not confine myself tothe details of the illustrated structure except to the extent that such details are specifically included in the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston moving in said cylinder, means yieldingly urging said piston outwardly of said cylinder, 9. fluid reservoir supplying liquid to said cylinder on outward movement of the piston,

. means resisting rapid discharge of liquid from said cylinder to said reservoir, means enclosing said reservoir to form with said reservoir and cylinder a sealed fluid system, and a deformable member disposed within said reservoir to compensate for volume changes of fluid in sai reservoir.

2. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston moving in said cylinder, means yieldingly urging said piston outwardly of said cylinder, a fluid reservoir supplying liquidto said cylinder on outward movement of the piston, means resisting rapid discharge of liquid from said cylinder to said reservoir, means enclosing said reservoir to form with said reservoir and cylinder a sealed fluid system, and a member disposed within said reservoir and capable of yielding under pressure to increase the capacity of the reservoir, whereby excessive rise of pressure within the reservoir is prevented.

3. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston moving in said cylinder, means yieldingly urging said piston outwardly of said cylinder, a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to said cylinder on outward movement of the piston, means resisting rapid discharge ofliquid from said cylinder to said reservoir, means enclosing said reservoir to form with said reservoir and cylinder a sealed fluid system, and a member within said reservoir deformable in response to pressure to compensate for increased pressure of fluid in the reservoir.

4. In an automatically expansible valve take- 'up device, the combination with a cylinder, of

a piston moving in said cylinder, means yieldingly urging said piston outwardly of said cylinder, a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to said cylinder on outward movement of the piston, means resisting rapid discharge of liquid from said cylinder to said reservoir, and means enclosing said reservoir to form with said reservoir and cylinder a sealed fluid system, said reservoir being defined by external and internal walls, said internal walls being deformable to compensate for increase in fluid pressure in said reservoir.

5. In an automatically expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the

combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder'having a piston therein and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder, means sealing said casing to provide therein a closed fluid system, and a member in said casing expansible and contractible in response to fluid pressure changes therein.

6. In an automatically expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder having a piston therein and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder, means sealing said casing to provide thereln'a closed fluid system, and means in said casing expansible and contractible in response to fluid pressurechanges therein, said last named means comprising a deformable element carried by said piston.

7. In an automatically expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder having a piston therein and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder, means sealing said casing to provide therein a closed fluid system, said piston having a stem extending exteri'orly of said casing, and a. member within said casing surrounding said stem, said last named means being deformable to compensate at least inpart for rise in fluid pressure within said supply chamber.

8. In an automatically expansible thrust element for use invalve actuating mechanism, the combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder having a piston HI 'Bil'I and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder, means sealing said casing to provide therein a closed fluid system, and means in said casing expansible and contractible in response to fluid pressure changes therein, said last named means comprising a hollow, closed chamber.

9. In an automatically expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder having a piston therein and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a

check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder, means sealing said casing to provide therein a closed fluid system, and means in said casing expansible and contractible in response to fluid pressure changes therein, said last named means comprising an el'ement of readily deformable material.

10. As an article of manufacture, an automatically expansive valve tappet having a compression cylinder and a liquid reservoir therefor, and a deformable member in said reservoir tov equalize the pressure therein.

11. In an automatically expansible valve takeup device, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston moving in said cylinder, means yieldingly urging said piston outwardly of said cylinder, a fluid reservoir supplying liquid to said cylinder on outward movement of the piston, means resistmg rapid discharge of liquid from said cylinder to said reservoir, means enclosing said reservoir to form with said reservoir and cylinder a sealed fluid system, and a device of variable volume disposed within said reservoir to compensate for I Volume changes of fluid in said reservoir, said fluid system being completely filled with liquid.

12. In an automatically expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the combination with a casing formed to provide a cylinder having a piston therein and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder, means sealing said casing to provide therein a closed fluid system, and means in said casing expansible and contractible in response to fluid pressure changes therein, said fluid system being completely filled with liquid.

13. In an automatically expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the combination with a closed casing formed to provide a cylinder having a, piston therein and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder, said piston having a stem extending exteriorly of said casing, a closure member having a press flt in said casing and an opening receiving said piston stem, and deformable means surface bonded to said stem and closure member to seal said casing while permitting relative movement of the piston and easing.

14. In an automatically expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the combination with a closed casing formed to provide a cylinder having a, piston therein and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage aflording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from. said cylinder, said piston having a stem extending exteriorly of said casing, a closure member having a press flt in said casing and anopening receiving said piston stem, and deformable means surface bonded to said stem ,and closure member to seal said cas-. ing while permitting relative movement of the piston and casinih Said deformable means com-' prising rubber.

15. In an automatically expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the combination with a closed casing formed to provide a cylinder having a piston therein and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated withsaid passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder, said piston having a stem extending exteriorly of said casing, a closure member having a press flt in said casing and anopening receiving said piston I 16.- In an automatically expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the combination with a closed casing formed to provide a cylinder having a piston therein anda fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder, said piston having a stem extending exteriorly of said casing, a closure member having a press fit in said casing and an opening receiving said piston stem, means carried by said closure member and surface bonded to said stem to seal said casing,

. and deformable means within said casing, whereby expansion of fluid on increase in temperature and pressure is permitted.

17. In an automatically. expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the combinationwith a closed casing formed to provide a cylinder having a piston therein and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder, said piston having a stem extending exteriorly of said casing, a closure member having a press flt in said casing and an opening receiving said piston stem, means carried by said closure member and surface bonded to said stem to seal said casing, and deformable means within said casing, whereby expansion of fluid on increase in temperature and pressure is permitted, said casing being completely filled with liquid.

18. In an automatically expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the combination with a. closed casing formed to provide a cylinder having a piston therein and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder,

'said piston having a stem extending exteriorly of said casing, a closure member having a press flt in said casing and an opening receiving said piston stem, means carried by said closure member and surface bonded to'said stem to seal said casing, and a collapsible chamber within said supply chamber, said supply chamber and cylinder being entirely filled with liquid.

19. In an automatically expansible thrust element for use in valve actuating mechanism, the combination with a closed casing formed to'provide a cylinder having a piston therein and a fluid supply chamber, of a passage affording communication between said cylinder and chamber, a check valve associated with said passage to resist rapid discharge of fluid from said cylinder, said piston having a stem extending exteriorly of said casing, a closure member having a press fit in said casing and an opening receiving said piston stem, means carried by said closure member and surface bonded to said stem to seal said casing, a collapsible chamber within said supply chamber, said supply chamber and cylinder being entirely fllled with liquid, and a plugged liquid filling oriflce in the head end of said cylinder.

mm 0. BEST. 

